Lead pencil



patente-ol Dec., 26, img@ UNER@ il@ Meit LEAD PENCIL.

Application led March 19, H4521. Serial No. 453,564.

T 0 all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALOYSIUs J. COLEMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, borough of Manhattan, in the county and Stateof New York, have invented a certain new and useful Lead Pencil, ofwhich the following is a speciiication.

This invention is a lead pencil of that type wherein replaceable leadsare employed, and the objects of the invention, speaking from afunctional standpoint, are to firmly support the lead in place duringthe writing operation and to maintain the proper assemblage of the partsat all times.

Pencils of this general typel are known to the prior art. They usuallyembody a wooden or metal handle in the form of a conventional leadpencil, one end of which is tapered. In the tapered end of the handleportion, a cylindrical' pocket is provided and positioned coaxially ofthe pocket is a rigid pin or stem anchored at one end 'in the base ofthe pocket. Seated within the pocket and embracing the pin or stem is amovable sleeve, into the exteriorend of which is adapted to be thrust alength of lead. The lead rests against the end of the rod so thatthrough manipulation of the sleeve, a greater or lesser portion of thelead ma Y be exposed to permit of its use for writing.

v Pencils of this kind have never gone into extensive use, for thereason that in all prior constructions considerable difficulty has beenmet in retaining the movable sleeve against inadvertent slipping fromthe socket in which it is positioned for adjustment. In the originalconception of this idea, the sleeves were mounted'so as to haveconsiderable friction with the walls of the socket, but it was found inpractice that atmospheric conditions greatly affected such friction, sothat at times it was practically 1mpossible to move the sleeve, while atother times the sleeve would fall out because of absolute lack offriction, these frictional variations being caused by unequallcontraction orl expansion of the parts.

In a later pencil of this class, it was attempted to overcome thespecified disadvantagesby utilizing the fixed pin or rod to assist inholding the sleeve in position andV 1t was suggested that if the pin, aswell,`

as the interior passage of the sleeve were'V 55 covered with a coatingof wax thatl suf# icient friction would be obtained tohold the sleeveagainst falling out when the friction between the sleeve and walls ofthe pocket became insuiiicient to accomplish this function. Thisexpedient helped to some extent in the solving of the problem, but afteravv relatively short time, it was found that the wax wore off or servedto merely polish the cooperating surface so that the final resultv was aminimizing of friction thereby enhancing the disadvantage sought 'to beovercome.

.In Aview of the foregoing consideration,

pencils of the character referred to have never gone into extensive use,but have, in practice, been almost entirely superseded by pencilswherein the slidingsleeves of the character referred to have beenreplaced by means which exerts a positive action, usually through screwthreading or the like, in the forcing of the lead intowriting position.While the early conceptions embody a stationary lead and a movablesleeve, the

present day pencils entirely depend onthe dispensing of the movablesleeve and utilizing a movable lead.

The simplest form of construction feasible4 is manifestly the movablesleeve and fixed lead construction, and the object of the presmainsstationary are entirely overcome and obviated bythe present invention,which embodies a new principle of operation. In

its preferred practical form, the invention comprises a movable sleevein the outer end of which a .piece of lead is adapted to be positionedand into the inner end of which projects a pin or rod which is firmlylanchored in the base of the pocket in which 100.

the movable sleeve is positioned for sliding movement. The pin thusbecomes av fixed pin which in practice is made resilient and bowedlongitudinally so that the bowed portions of the pin will function afterthe manner of a leaf spring operating within the movable sleeve andfirmly gripping the walls thereof in tight frictional engagement, andthereby serving to hold the sleeve against inadvertent displacement fromthe pocket. Features of the invention, other than those specified, willbe apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, whenread in conjunction with the accompanyin drawings.

e accompanyin drawings illustrate different practical em odiments of theinvention, but the constructions therein shown are to be understood asillustrative,'only and not as defining thelimits of the the invention. Y

Figure 1 is an elevation of a pencl'embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section of the writing end ofthe'pencil shown -in Fi re 1.

igures 3, 4 and 5 are similar sections through modified forms of theinvention.

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevation of a movable sleeve of the charactershown inthe construction of Figure 2; and, l

Figure 7 is an end elevation of the movable sleeve shown in Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates' the vhandle or body portion ofa pencil, one end of, which is provided with a pocket 2,

' the pocke'ted end of the handle being tapered at 3 to decrease itscross sectional area. to better adaptv it for writing purposes.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2, 6 and 7the pocket 2 is provided with a liner 4 in the form of a fixed sleeve,which is forced into the pocket and is adapted to remain in fixedpermanent position therein. Mounted for sli ding movement within thefixed sleeve 4 is a movable sleeve 5. The inner end of the` movablesleeve 5 is preferably flared out or flanged at 6 to increase its crosssectional area, so that it cannot -be withdrawn through the fixed sleeve4. The outer or exposed end of -the movable sleeve 5 is preferablyprovided with an exterior annular channe 7 and an interior annular bead8 and vis urther slit slightly beyond the bead and channel as shown at 9in Figures 6 and 7. Into the outer end of the movable sleeve, a lengthof lead 10 is adapted to be thrust and the lead is made of such sizethat when forced into position under relatively slight pressure, the endportions of the sleeve 5 between the slits 9 will serve as resilientclamping jaws adapted to receive and grip the lead 10 in such manner asto retain it against inadvertent longitudinalmovement relative to thesleeve 5. In order to permit of ready introduction of the lead into thesleeve 5, the end or mouth of the sleeve is vpreferably reamed out ortapered as shown at 11 so as to vprovide a wedge shaped mouth whichreceives the lead and guides it into the interior of the sleeve.

Extending into the sleeve from the inner end thereof is a rod 12. Thisrod is preferably of resilient material and is anchored in the body orhandle 1 of the pencil. vThe rod may be conveniently anchored in thehandle by driving or forcing it into the base of the pocket 2, or in anydesired way so long as the rod is anchored with respect to the handle.The rod is bent, bowed or. otherwise formed intermediate its ends sothat that portion of the rod which extends into the movable sleeve 5will engage with the inner surface of 4the sleeve at two or more pointsand through such engagement will be placed under tension and functionafter the manner of a leaf spring to exert friction upon the sleeve andthereby lock it to the rod against inadvertent longitudinal movement. Inthe structure shown in Figure 2, the rod is bent or bowed so that itwill have a three point contact with the interior of the sleeve 5, thethree points of the contact being designated 13, 14 and 15.

The resilient rod 12 thus serves as a retainer for the movable sleeve 5,but has a further important function of acting as a stop or abutment forthe lead 10. In practice, the rod 12 is made of such length as to extendsubstantially to the end of the handle, so that when a piece of lead isforced into the end of the sleeve 5, it will seat against the end of therod 12, which will serve to support the lead against pressure imposedupon it during writing. Y

In practice, the pencil may be charged by pulling out the sleeve 5 asfar as possible and forcing a piece of lead into the` end thereof. Ifthe sleeve is now forced in, the lead thus introduced will engage withthe end of the rod 12 and upon further movement Iof the sleeve, aportion of the lead may be exposed to permit of writing. As the lead isworn down by writing,'the sleeve may be shifted from time to time toexpose a further portion thereof until practically all the lead 1s usedor worn away, whereupon a further piece of lead may be introduced in themanneridescribed.

In the preferred form of the invention described, a fixed sleeve 4 isembodied and the inner end of the movable sleeve is flanged so that itis not possible to remove the movable sleeve from the pocket. However,in practice, if desired, the fixed sleeve may be entirely omitted,andthe flange 6 on the movable sleeve also omitted, in which event, amovable sleeve will operate directly within the pocket and will dependentirely upon the bowed retaining rod to hold it in position. Thisconstruction has been found to give entirely satisfactory results,though the fixed sleeve is preferred as it gives` a better bearing forthe Amovable sleeve without a reciable addition of expense.

lln *igure 3 of the drawings, a modified form of construction isillustrated, wherein the rod 12 is bent or bowed in the mannerhereinbefore described and functions in tbe same manner as referred towith reference to Figure 2, but the forward end of the rod 'is providedwith an enlargement or stop 16 and the inner end of the'movable tube 5is provided with an inturned flange 6.v The inturned flange 6 and theenlargement 16 will cooperate with one another'to preclude withdrawal ofthe movable sleeve even though Said sleeve is pulled out so far as todisengage the bowed portion of the rod from the inner surface of themovable sleeve.

In Figure 4, a further form of the inven tion is shown. ln thisembodiment, the fixed sleeve la is interiorly threaded and the movablesleeve 5a is exteriorly threaded, while the rod 12a is made straight. lnthis construction, the threaded cooperation between the fixed andmovable sleeves precludes inadvertent shifting of the movable sleeveland the rod 12a merely serves as an abutment for the lead.

ln Figure 5, a further embodiment of the invention is disclosed, whereinthe rod 6b is threaded and the movable sleeve 5" is also interiorlythreaded so as to screw upon the threaded rod 6b, the latter of which isanchored in the base of the pocket against rotation. In thisconstruction, the fixed sleeve 4" merely serves the function of a guidefor the movable sleeve, the threaded connection between the rod and themovable sleevel serving to preclude inadvertent shifting of the latter.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new anddesire to se- .cure by Letters Patent is:

1. A lead pencil embodying a handle or body portion provided Vat one endwith a pocket, a sleeve positioned for sliding movement Within thepocket, a resilient `rod `anchored near `the base of the pocket andextending into the sleeve to substantially the end of the body portionof the pencil, said rod being bowed or bent longitudinally to engagewith the interior of the sleeve at a plurality of points and function asa spring retainer for the sleeve to normally lock the same againstinadvertent longitudinal movement, whereby a length of lead thrust intothe outer end of the sleeve may seat against the end of the rod and beexposed for the desired portion of its length by sliding the sleeve uponthe rod.

2. A lead pencil embodying a' handle provided at one end with a pocket,a sleeve mounted for slidable movement within the pocket, .and aresilient member anchored' engagement with the sleeve whereby theposition of the latter may he adjustably controlled.

4. A lead pencil embodying a handle provided at one end with a pocket, afixed sleeve seated within the pocket, a movable sleeve mounted forsliding movement within the fixed sleeve, and a resilient retaineranchored with respect fo the handle of the pencil and extending into themovable sleeve, said retainer being bwed or bent laterally whereby it isadapted to frictionally engage the interior of the movable sleeve' forthe purpose of maintaining said sleeve against inadvertent longitudinalmovement.

5. A lead pencil embodying a. handle provided at one end with a pocket,a fixed sleeve positioned within the pocket, a movable sleeve mountedfor sliding movement within the fixed sleeve and having its inner endflanged outwardly to overlie the inner end of the fixed sleeve for thepurpose of lprecluding .withdrawal of the, movable sleeve, and aresilient retainer anchored with respect to the handle of the pencil andextending into the interior of the movable sleeve, said retainer beingbent or off' set laterally, whereby it is adapted to frictionally engagethe movable sleeve for the purpose of precluding yinadvertent movementthereof. f l

6. A lead pencil embodying a handle provided at one end with a pocket, amovable sleeve mounted for sliding movement within the pocket, aresilient retaining member anchored with respect to the handle of thepencil and extending into the interior of the sleeve, said resilientretaining member being bent laterally to frictionally'engage with theinterior of the sleeve for the purpose of precluding inadvertentlongitudinal movement, of the sleeve, and means for sleeve from thepocket.

7. A lead pencil embodying a handle provided at one end with a pocket,an external sleeve fixedly secured in the pocket, an internal 'sleevetelescoping within the fixed sleeve, a spring member anchored to the"positively precluding disengagement of the 8. A lead pencil embodying`almndle'protion independently of the exterior sleeve, vided at one endwith :t pocket, :t pair of und extending into the interior of the inner10 coaxial sleeves positioned wit-hin the pocket, sleeve tosubstantially the end of the handle the exterior of one of which sleevesis fixed pol-tion. with respect to the pocket and the interior Intestimony whereof, I have signed my' of which sleeves is mount-ed foradjustment name to this specification. relative to the exterior sleeve,and a rod anchored at its inner end to the handle por- I ALOYSIUS J.COLEMAN.

